Former Republican State Senator Niraj Antani announced the launch of his campaign for Ohio Secretary of State Jan. 23, 2025. The Republican primary in Ohio will take place in the spring of 2026.

Sen. Antani served for more than a decade as a State Senator and State Representative in the Ohio General Assembly, representing the greater Dayton area.

The current Secretary of State Frank LaRose is term limited and cannot run again, along with the other statewide Constitutional officers of Ohio.

Sen. Antani became the first Hindu and Indian American State Senator in Ohio history. He led the enactment of a law to give every Hindu student in Ohio a day off school for Diwali and 2 other Hindu holidays. He also led the passing of the bill to designate October as Hindu Heritage Month in the state.

If elected as Ohio’s next Secretary of State, he will become the first Hindu and Indian American down ticket statewide office holder in American history. As well, he will become the first Hindu and Indian American elected statewide office holder in Ohio, and also its first Asian American statewide elected office holder in state history.

The Secretary of State is 1 of 6 statewide elected Constitutional executive officers of Ohio, along with Governor and Attorney General. As Ohio’s chief elections officer, the Secretary of State administers the presidential and gubernatorial primary and general elections across the entire state, and all other off year elections. Former Secretaries of State include current United States Senator Jon Husted, former U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown, former Governor Bob Taft, and more.

In his statement carried in the press release, Antani said, “Living under British rule in India less than 70 years ago, my family didn’t have their freedom. They didn’t have the right to vote. As someone born in America, I uniquely understand we must cherish that we were born free people, born with the right to vote. This is a sacred institution; our vote must be protected, safeguarded, secured. As Ohio’s next Secretary of State, I will do just that.”

He went on to add that he had stood up against the political establishment of both parties and special interests during his term in the General Assembly.

“We cannot afford elected leaders who shift their positions as the political winds change, who march to the beat of the drum of the establishment. We need leaders with conviction, who will preserve our values and shared ideals,” he added.

“While India gained independence, my family came to America and became American citizens to pursue the American Dream. I’ve fought to give that same opportunity to achieve the American Dream to every Ohioan. That dream begins with fair and free elections. As Ohio’s next Secretary of State, I will always defend that dream and our elections,” Sen. Antani said.

First elected at age 23 in 2014, Senator Antani was the youngest Member of the Ohio Senate and the Ohio House for the duration of his service. He served as the Vice Chair of the Senate Committee on Health, Vice Chair of the House Committee on Rules, Vice Chair of the House Committee on Insurance, and as a long time member of the Joint Medicaid Oversight Committee.

“Among his proudest legislative accomplishments, he authored the state law giving college athletes their rights to their name, image, and likeness, commonly known as NIL,” the press release noted.

(Used with permission)

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